ELE Speakers List

Here is a list of previous guests and speakers/lectures of English Language Evenings.
(Note, all the meetings listed below of the first three seasons were held when the ELE was called the "English Language Discussion Club" [ELDC].)

All those listed below gave of their time and energy to speak to the ELE for which they are thanked!

November 16, 2001:John HelmerThe Longest Serving Western Correspondent in Russia"Stealing The Truth - How To Read, And Not To Read, The Press In Russia"December 7, 2001:Steven RosenbergBBC Correspondent Moscow"Covering the News in Russia"

December 14, 2001:Ajai GoyalPresident Russia Journal"The State of Russian Democracy- Do Russians Deserve Democracy or Dictatorship"

January 25, 2002:Robert NurickDirector, Carnegie Moscow Center (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)"Counter-Terrorism and Civil Liberties -- the US Debates"

February 8, 2002:David FiresteinPolitical Section, US Embassy Russia"George W. Bush: Year One in the White House" February 22, 2002:Dr. Toby Clyman Professor of Russian Literature SUNY;Director - Center of Russia and the United States, Moscow State University"Nineteenth Century Russian Women's Autobiographies"

March 12, 2002:Marlene Thorn Taber, PhD"The Commercial Theater in New York City"

March 22, 2002: Michel HallotVisiting Professor of Literature, MPSU"The Television Landscape in the USA: MTV, Fragmentation and Free Speech"

April 12, 2002:David Firestein, Political Section US Embassy Moscow"God, Family, Boots, and Beer: Contemporary Country Music and the American Idea"April 26, 2002:Christopher Ohan,Ph.D. Humanities, Fulbright Scholar, Visiting Lecturer MGIMO"Globalization and the Teaching of History: The Triumph of Relativism"

May 31, 2002:David Firestein, US Embassy -- Political Section"Parting Thoughts on a Changing Moscow, 1998-2002"

FIFTH SEASON:October 14, 2002:Dr. William Lan Craig (Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California)"The Ultimate Question of Origins: God and the Beginning of the Universe"

October 18, 2002:Geoffe Meade, British Sky News Broadcasting Correspondent"The First Casualty -- the Life and Reporting Experiences of a TVCorrespondent in Danger Zones"

November 26, 2003Ambassador of South Africa His Excellency Dr Mochubela Jacob Seekoe "On the Eve of Ten Years of Democracy in South Africa",

December 10, 2003Michele Berdy, Moscow Times columnist and professional translator"The Bilingual Mind: Culture, Language and Personality in Russian and English"

2004February 13, 2004
Professor Greg Garvey,
Associate Professor at SUNY
State University of New York) and Co-Director of the Center of Russia and the
US at Moscow State University

February 27, 2004
"Ralph Waldo Emerson and American Liberalism"
Ed Salazar US Cultural Attache to Moscow
will lead a discussion titled:
"What Do Americans Mean When They Talk About Values?"

APRIL 2, 2004
by Dennis Whelan
Visiting Scholar (Russian Studies) Dartmouth College, and Senior Partner and Director of the Center for Russian Law
"In the Maw of the Mouse:
Disney, RIAA, and the Ever-expanding World of Copyright"

APRIL 23, 2004
by John Helmer
The longest-serving Western correspondent in Moscow
"Dancing With Bears:
Why You Can't Understand Russian Politics By Reading"
Friday May 21, 2004

The last meeting of ELE for this season will be a DISCUSSION held on at 19:00 titled:
"The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Beautiful: What Is Lost and
What Is Gained in Post-Soviet Russia"
moderated by Stephen Lapeyrouse, host of ELE.

NOVEMBER 12, 2004
Lecturer:
Martha Steffens
Visiting Professor, Moscow State University
Chair of Business and Financial Journalism
University of Missouri
Title:
Bad News from Russia:
Why Fearful Journalists Can't Report the News

November 26, 2004:
Lecturer:
Masha Lipman
Pro and Contra Editor; monthly op-ed columnist for the Washington Post; often and regularly interviewed by major Western news media on Russia; contributor to many publications, e.g. New Yorker, Moscow Times.
Russia Groping for Self Identity: 1917, 1990, 1612

December 17, 2004Bruce Jones
First Secretary, Australian Embassy Moscow
Australia: Myth and Reality

2005

January 21, 2005:
John Brown
Institute for the Study of Diplomacy
Georgetown University
Washington DC
Re-Inventing Oneself in America -- Revisited

February 11, 2005:
Mary Shea
American Councils, Future Leaders Exchange
(FLEX)-EURASIA Alumni Coordinator
An Evening with Some of New England's Legends:
Introducing Mark Twain, Henry Thoreau, Sojourner Truth, John F. Kennedy and a Few of Their Friends

March 18, 2005 (Day after St. Patrick's Day)
John Walsh
Irish Lecturer
An Irish Journey: A Brief History of Ireland

April 1, 2005
David Wansbrough
Australian Poet, Author, Lecturer
Know the Dark Side: What is the Shadow of the Soul
(Note: this may be David's last visit to Russia.)

April 22, 2005
His Excellency Justin Harman
Irish Ambassador to Russia
Ireland: A Transformation
NOTE: THIS LECTURE WILL BE HELD AT THE IRISH EMBASSY. A PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE.
Entrance after 18:30; lecture begins at 19:00.
Grokholski Pereulok 5, Moscow
Nearest Metro: Prospekt Mira

May 13, 2005
Myler Wilkinson
Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, where he teaches on Russian culture;

27 May, 2005
Francesca Carlin
Melanie Getreuer
Fulbright Fellows in Russia
The New Feminist: Men in Skirts and Dumb Blondes?
An Overview of Women in Politics and the Arts

November 11, 2005
Andrew Kuchins,
Director Carnegie Moscow Center
"Russia, China, and the USA: New Angles to the Triangle?"
19:00

November 25, 2005
Raymond Stultz
Classical Music, Ballet and Opera Critic for
The Moscow Times
"The Bolshoi Theater:
Ups and Downs Over 230 Seasons"
19:00

December 23, 2005
ELE MEETS FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER
ELE will meet for an open conversation on the topic:
"Christmas and New Year:
What Do They Mean to You, Our Nations and Our Cultures?"
This will be an evening moderated by ELE host Stephen Lapeyrouse, where everyone will be able to come to the stage and express their personal views on this evening's topic.
19:00

2006
February 10, 2006
Tobias Bradford
Second Secretary, Public Affairs US Embassy Moscow
"Civil Society: the Roots of a Dynamic Community "
19:00

TUESDAY
February 21, 2006
Erin Bouma
Editor Newspaper English, English Language Teacher
"LESSONS LEARNED:
What 15 years in Russia have taught an American"

March 24, 2006
Dr. Bob Beatty
Assistant Professor of Political Science,
Washburn University
"US Politics and the Dynamics of the Iraq Conflict"
April 14, 2006
Piers Gladstone
Free-lance Travel Writer
"Inner States - The Story of a Journey to Discover What the American Flag Means to Americans"

May 12, 2006
Tobias Bradford,
Second Secretary, Public Affairs US Embassy Moscow
"The Roots of Terrorism"
May 26, 2006
John Bonar
Photo Journalist
"Across Russia in a Mad Winter Car Race"
An account of the 2006 Murmansk-Vladivostok Expedition Trophy car race, from February 23rd to Vladivostok on March 8th.

Ninth SeasonOctober 13, 2006
Irish Writers on Continental Europe during the
Second World War -- Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and Francis Stuart
Dr Niall Keogh
Visiting Lecturer in Department of History at MSU

December 15, 2006
"An Octogenarian Journalist Looks Back at Changes in the World --
Growing Up in Different Eras and Witnessing a Global Paradigm Shift"
Charles Wiley
Veteran News Correspondent who has lectured in 100 countries, and had worldwide experiences since World War II.

October 13, 2006Irish Writers on Continental Europe during theSecond World War -- Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and Francis StuartDr Niall KeoghVisiting Lecturer in Department of History at MSU

October 20, 2006Money: Comparing American and Russian AttitudesNadja Krylov American Management Consultant and Seminar Leader

November 10, 2006World War
II Was Only Yesterday: The View from Berlin in the 1980'sJeff SextonUS Embassy, Deputy Cultural Officer

December 15, 2006An Octogenarian Journalist Looks Back at Changes in the World --
Growing Up in Different Eras and Witnessing a Global Paradigm ShiftCharles WileyVeteran News Correspondent who has lectured in 100 countries, and had worldwide experiences since World War II.

TUESDAY May 15, 2007W. B. Yeats -- Poet for the FutureDavid WansbroughAustralian Poet, Writer, LecturerOne of the most popular ELE speakers -- now rarely in Moscow. Come early if you want a seat!

TUESDAY May 22, 2007Ireland -- Present and PastMr Aidan KirwanDeputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland to the Russian Federation

Charity Donation:On the last meeting of this season, ELE will, as usual, donate the speakers' honoraria to a charity in Moscow. This time it will be donated to Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Moscow on behalf of the following speakers during the past two years: Bob Beatty, James Beatty, Michele Berdy, Tobias Bradford, Bill Gasperini, John Harrison, Niall Keogh, Nadja Krylov, Masha Lippmann, Boris Martinovich, Lionel Ponsard, James Rodgers, Jeff Sexton, Raymond Stultz, Charles Wiley.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN "BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS" AND POSSIBLY VOLUNTEERING, AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE.

May 25, 2007The Mysterious Wisdom of English Nursery RhymesDavid WansbroughAustralian Poet, Writer, LecturerOne of the most popular ELE speakers -- now rarely in Moscow. Come early if you want a seat!

March 14, 2008
The Body Phantastique:
Anatomy and Physiology
from the Point of View of Soul and Spirit
By Robert Stewart
Director of the Institute for
Advanced Homeopathic Studies,
Trained Waldorf Art History Teacher

April 11, 2008
Who is Barak Obama?
By Michael Cordy
Private Consultant

April 25, 2008
Why do people hate poetry?
David Wansbrough
Australian poet, author, lecturer

May 16, 2008
A Cabaret!: Moscow is mad! -- Reflections on Beautiful, Terrible, Wonderful, Mad Moscow
Rather than a simple lecture, David Wansbrough describes his May 16 evening "Moscow is mad!" as a "cabaret performance, with singers, storytelling, illusions and delusions...about life in Moscow"
David Wansbrough
Australian poet, author, lecturer

May 30, 2008
Highlights and Insights to 18 Years in Russia -- Thoughts at Departing
Erin Bouma
Freelance teacher, Teacher Trainer, Coursebook author, Leader of American Literature Discussion Club in Moscow

JUNE 24 TUESDAY
The Cabaret of Professor Woland!
David Wansbrough, poet and author

October 17, 2008
"Chads, Soccer Moms and Swing States:
A Glimpse of US Culture through 'Electionspeak'"
David Fay, English Language Officer, U.S. Embassy Moscow

October 31, 2008
"Green Development -- An Introduction"
John Harrison, British journalist with a specialisation in real estate. Editor Passport Magazine

November 14, 2008
"50 Years as a Translator"
George Watts, Translator, Announcer

TUESDAY April 7, 2009
"The Evolution of Consciousness as 'Pictured' in the History of Art"
Slide Show and Presentation by
Robert Stewart, Waldorf Teacher, Lecturer
TUESDAY April 21, 2009
"Space Shuttle Flight-118: A Mission to Build the International Space Station"
Slide Show and Presentation
Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr. (Colonel, USAF), NASA Astronaut (12 days in space in 2007)
Director of NASA Operations at ЦПК (Gagarin Center for Cosmonaut Preparation)

May 29, 2009
"Paul Robeson: the Artist as Political Casualty"
Helen Campbell, Author and Lecturer

September 18, 2009
"ANIMAL RIGHTS AND HUMAN WRONGS:
Animal Welfare Developments in Britain and Russia
from the 19th Century to the Present Day."
James Hogan
Vice Chairman
Mayhew Animal Home & Humane Education Centre, London

September 25, 2009
"How do we see?" A lecture on how we selectively see. How our belief structures and education determine our personal worlds.
David Wansbrough
Author, Lecturer, Poet

October 9, 2009
"Finding Identity in Multi-Cultural Australia"
David Wansbrough
Author, Lecturer, Poet
This will be his last ELE before returning to Australia

December 11, 2009
"Art & Literature in London & Moscow – International Cultural Relations & the Work of the British Council in Russia"
Rosemary Hilhorst, Director British Council Russia
December 18, 2009
"Twas the Week Before Christmas... -- An Evening on the History, the Heart and Soul, and the Celebration of Christmas in America"
Stephen Lapeyrouse, Founder of ELE, Author, Editor

2010
January 22, 2010
"Covering Russia: Reflections on Reporting Russia" (Rather than a lecture, this will be a conversation on the topic, with...)
Fred Weir
Moscow Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor

MONDAY April 26, 2010
"Going to the Polls: The British General Election"
Dr. Laurie Bristow
Minister and Deputy Head of Mission to British Embassy Moscow

May 14, 2010
"Painful US Democracy in the Age of Obama"
Linnea Goodwin Burwood
Fulbright Scholar, Moscow 2009-2010

2010/2011 (13th!) season:

September 24, 2010
"David's New Zealand Childhood"
David Wansbrough
Poet, author, lecturer, painter, performer, preacher, teacher...Very popular ELE speaker David Wansbrough will tell stories about his life in New Zealand. If you have neven heard David speak, it is an evening experience you wont forget!

October 1, 2010
"Experiences with Couchsurfers and American Literature in Moscow"
Erin Bouma
Author, Lecturer, EL teacher, Assistant Editor English; host of American Literature club at the American Center in the Library of Foreign Literature This lecture will be 100 rubles, as it is also a fund-raiser for Erin with her visa ordeals!

October 15, 2010
"Great Individuals in History"
David Wansbrough
In sum: a kind of bard.If you have not attended a talk with David, it is an evening you should regret if you never experience one! Come early to get a good seat!This lecture will be 100r, as it is to help defray David's travel expenses.

October 22, 2010
"The Russian Word's Worth: Charting Change through Language"
Michele Berdy
Famous Moscow Times Columnist! Michele is publishing a book, and copies will be for sale that evening. (You can learn about it by clicking here.)

November 12, 2010
"Conservation of Khamchatka's Natural Heritage"
Laura Williams
Author The Storks Nest: Life and Love in the Russian Countryside, Senior Advisor for Wild Salmon Center and World Wildlife Fund Russia. For more information, see the website of Laura's husband Igor Shpilenok.

November 26, 2010
"The Nature of Evil: A Challenge to Human Consciousness"
Robert Stewart
Lecturer, Waldorf School History Teacher To locate copy to print of lecture handout, click here.

February 25, 2011
"American Theatre State of the Art"
Thomas Santos
English Language Officer, U.S. Embassy in Moscow

March 11, 2011
"Pop English: Learning to Speak via Horror Stories and Daytime TV "
Natalia Antonova, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Moscow News
Fluent in English and Russian, with a degree in English Literature with distinction at Duke University in North Carolina, playwright and currently Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Moscow News

April 1, 2011
"The Psychology of Jokes"
David Wansbrough
Poet, author, lecturer, painter, performer, preacher, teacher... Very popular ELE speaker. If you have neven heard David speak, it is an evening experience you wont forget!

TUESDAY June 7, 2011
Tea Party Nation: The State of American Politics in 2011
David Firestein
Vice President of the East-West Institute (a New York City-Based Foreign Policy Think Tank)
David spoke 5 times to ELE in 2000-2002, and was a very popular speaker.
Visiting Moscow, ELE is happy to be able to host this talk!

September 23, 2011

"From Pushkin to Yeats and Heaney: The Poet and National Identity"
Ambassador of Ireland Philip McDonagh

MONDAY October 3, 2011

вЂњCulture as Diplomacy: The Role of Music, Art and Literature in International Relations TodayвЂќ Assistant Professor Maureen O'Neill

2012

January 13, 2012

вЂњComrade Cowboy -- Building a Russian Beef IndustryвЂќDarrell Stevenson
A Montana Breeding Ranch Owner -- who is transplanting a ranch, complete with horses and cowboys, to the Voronezh region in southern Russia

January 20, 2012

"The Facebook Revolution: How Social Media Is Changing Russia"
Tim Wall
Editor-in-Chief, The Moscow News

February 10, 2012

"'Houston, we have a problem!' -- International Relations in Space Travel"
Steve Quenneville
NASA International Liaison Specialist -- Houston-Korolyov

"Experiences of Young Diplomats Representing a Democratic South Africa"

Fulu Themeli, Second Secretary Political and Thembani Maluleke, Third Secretary Political, South African Embassy, Moscow
New in Moscow, seeing snow for their first time, two young diplomats will speak about growing up in rural areas of South Africa, being accepted into the cadet programme of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and now discovering themselves in a world remote from anything they have ever imagined before.

March 16, 2012

ST. PATRICK'S ELE PARTY!

Irish music, discussion on Irish culture, buffet and games.

Welcome to the Party! The fun starts at 19:00, consists of games, dance, songs and continues till around 21:30.

"From Beverly Hills to Moscow: How in the World I Got Here and Why I Brought Over 80 Hollywood Stars!"Bob Van RonkelAmerican Producer and the President of Doors to Hollywood, a company that in the last 10 years has brought over 80 world famous Hollywood stars and bands to Russia and other countries for many different festivals, parties, special events and concerts.

Chocolate has long hypnotized children and adults alike, believed for thousands of years to contain spiritual, medicinal and romantic powers. Myths from many cultures describe cacao as the food of the gods, and it's hard not to feel a slice of divinity when that piece of chocolate melts in your mouth!
The business of chocolate in the U.S. is anything but sweet. The stories and personalities of the founders of America's greatest chocolate empires - Milton Hershey and Forrest Mars - plunge us into tales of creativity, espionage, personality clashes and high secretive techniques that have left companies in lawsuits and political wrangling. Come learn more about the mystery and intrigue of the world of America's sweets; you won't look at an American candy the same again!

May 25, 2012

"Seeing Ourselves in the Other - Lessons from the Rwanda Genocide"Carl WilkensDirector of World Outside My Shoes Foundation

A humanitarian aid worker. Carl Wilkens moved to Rwanda with his family in 1990. When the genocide began in April 1994, Wilkens refused to leave. He was the only American to remain in the country, though thousands of expatriates evacuated and the United Nations pulled out most of their troops. Come and hear his story of these events.